ACT V., SCENE 1.

_Enter_ BELLAFRONT.

BEL. Titles and state, d'ye call it? O content! Thou art both beauty, means, and all in marriage. Joy dwells not in the princes' palaces: They that envy 'em do not know their cares. Were I the queen of gold, it could not buy An hour's ease for my oppressed heart. O, were this wedlock knot to tie again, Not all the state and glory it contains, Join'd with my father's fury, should enforce My rash consent! but, Scudmore, thou shalt see This false heart (in my death) most true to thee. [_Shows a knife hanging by her side._ My lord, my father, all the company, Did note my sudden sadness now at supper; Yet came I out, and put on feigned mirth, And mean to sit out this night's revels, too, To avoid all suspect may grow in 'em, Lest my behaviour should my intent reveal: Our griefs, like love, we hardly can conceal[60]. Yon come my sisters. Are the masquers ready?

_Enter_ LUCIDA, _with her willow garland on, and_ KATHERINE.

LUC. They are gone to dress themselves. Master Nevill's come. I would I had not vow'd to live a maid! I am a little taken with that gentleman, And yet if marriage be so full of ill, Let me be married to my garland still.

KATH. In troth, thy state is happier much than ours. Were never two like us unfortunate!

LUC. Thy case indeed I needs must pity much, Because I think thy virtue slandered; But for my lady sister, if she reap Sad discontent, 'tis none's but her own fault: I knew the passages 'twixt her and Scudmore.

BEL. Sister, I wonder you will name a man, I think not on: he was no match for me. Why d'ye blame me, that should rather blame Your wandering eye, to love a man lov'd me?

LUC. Well, 'tis too late now to expostulate. But, my poor little Kate, where is thy man?

KATH. Lost, lost, in troth: to-morrow I shall hear, I make account, he's gone some five-years' voyage, Till this disgrace of ours be overblown; And for my Captain Pouts, by this time he Is ten mile on the river toward Gravesend.

_Enter_ SIR JOHN WORLDLY _with_ SERVANTS, _with torches and cudgels_.

SIR J. WOR. Stand you two there. Sirrah, go you with me. Why, how now, girls! here still? what, and your ladyship? Away! away, I say: go take your places. Some torches for my lady! You sirrah, [_Exeunt_ BELLAFRONT, LUCIDA, KATE. Is my Lady Ninny awake yet?[61]

SER. Yes, sir, she is awake, but she is scant sober: the first thing she called for was her aqua-vitæ bottle.

SIR J. WOR. Who is with her?

SER. The good Sir Innocent and her gentlewoman.

SIR J. WOR. Go, tell 'em I desire their company, The masque stays on 'em, say; and d'ye hear, The sides of one o' th' chairs must be let out For her great ladyship.

SER. Marry, shall it, sir. [_Exit_ SERVANT.

_Enter_ NEVILL, COUNT, PENDANT, _and_ SIR ABRAHAM, _in their masquing robes;_ SIR ABRAHAM _gnawing on a capon's leg_.

NEV. Soul! man, leave eating now: look, look! you have all dropped o' your suit.

ABRA. O sir, I was in love to-day, and could not eat; but here's one knows the case is altered. Lend me but a handkerchief to wipe my mouth, and I ha' done.

NEV. Soul! how this rascal stays with the rest of our things.

SIR J. WOR. How now, son Count? what, ready, Master Nevill?

NEV. All ready, ready; only we tarry for our vizards and our caps: I put 'em to a knave to do,[62] because I would have 'em the better done.

ABRA. If you put 'em to a knave, you are like to have 'em the worse done.

NEV. Your wit is most active: I called him knave in regard of his long stay, sir, not his work.

ABRA. But, d'ye hear, Master Nevill? did you bespeak a vizard with a most terrible countenance for me?

NEV. A very devil's face: I fear nothing, but that it will fright the women.

ABRA. I would it would. And a huge moustachio?[63]

NEV. A very Turk's.

ABRA. Excellent!

C. FRED. But do you think he will come at all?

OMNES. O, there he is.

SCUD. (_Within_). By your leave! stand back, by your leave!

_Enter_ SCUDMORE, _like a vizard-maker_.

Nothing can be done to-night, if I enter not.

2D SER. Stand back there, or I'll burn you.

SCUD. 'Twere but a whorish trick, sir.

3D SER. O sir, is't you? Heart! you will be kill'd.

SCUD. Marry, God forbid, sir.

NEV. Pray, forbear; let me speak to him. O, you use us very well.

SCUD. In good faith, I have been so troubled about this gentleman's scurvy face (I take it), 'tis wonderful.

ABRA. Well, are you fitted now?

NEV. Fitted at all points.

C. FRED. Where are the caps?

SCUD. Here, sir.

PEN. Let me see mine.

C. FRED. Come, help me on with mine.

ABRA. This is a rare face to fright the maids i' th' country! Here now I'll pin my purse. Come, help me on.

NEV. So, so, away! mine being on, I'll follow you.

OMNES. Pray, make haste. [_Exeunt_ SIR JOHN WORLDLY, SIR ABRAHAM, COUNT, PENDANT.

NEV. So, that door's fast, and they are busied About their charge. On with this robe of mine, This vizard and this cap: help me a little. [_Change habits._

SCUD. At first change I must tell her who I am.

NEV. Right; 'tis agreed, I (leading of the masque) Should dance with Bellafront.

SCUD. And at the second, I come away with her, and leave them dancing, And shall find you at the back door.

NEV. The rest, That follows, is digested in my breast.

SER. What would you do I stand back, Unless you can eat torches!

_Enter_ COUNT, PENDANT, SIR ABRAHAM, _in their masquing robes_.

C. FRED. Come, come! away for shame!

SCUD. 'Tis such a tedious rascal. So ha' wi' ye. [_Exeunt masquers._

SIR J. WOR. Thou hast well fitted 'em, though thou mad'st 'em stay.

NEV. I forbid any man to mend 'em, sir. Good night unto your worship.

SIR J. WOR. Wilt not stay?

NEV. Alas, sir! I have another to set forth This very night. By your leave, my masters. [_Exit_ NEVILL _through them_.

2D SER. By your leave! by your leave! you'll let a man go out?

SIR J. WOR. Now, go with me, and let all in that will. [_Exit_ SIR JOHN WORLDLY _with them, and run in three or four_.